Lake Superior is a constant source of pride and joy for many who live on the north coast of the Upper Peninsula.

And on Sunday, we have an official reason to celebrate: Lake Superior Day.

The special day in recognition of the big lake, which started in Thunder Bay, Ontario, during the early 1990s, falls on the third Sunday of July each year.

There’s much to celebrate Sunday, as the crown jewel of the Great Lakes provides us with fresh water, a valuable marine ecosystem, as well as the many recreational and economic development opportunities that come with the world’s largest freshwater lake.

We recognize that while formal, in-person celebrations of Lake Superior Day have been held in Marquette and cities all around the big lake in years past, things are a little different this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But we shouldn’t let that stop us from taking a moment to celebrate, honor, preserve and protect Lake Superior this Sunday.

You can go for a swim, take a boat ride, fish, hunt for rocks, watch wildlife, or just take in the natural, awe-inspiring beauty of the big lake.

You can also take direct actions on Lake Superior Day — and every day — to protect the lake, which holds three quadrillion gallons of freshwater, an astonishing 10% of the earth’s fresh surface water.

For one, we encourage readers to pick up any litter they see in the lake, along the shoreline, or even in streets and neighborhoods, as much of the litter on the streets can flow unfiltered into Lake Superior through storm drains.

It’s critical to pick up the litter, as water in Lake Superior is retained for 191 years on average, meaning that contaminants and litter in the lake may not leave it any time soon without our intervention.

You can also protect the lake and its inhabitants by preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plants and animals, as these can harm native species at a tremendous ecological and economic cost.

We strongly encourage all boaters and mariners to do their part to protect the lake from invasive species by practicing all required and recommended procedures to stop the spread of invasive species. We hope mariners will spread the word and encourage their fellow boaters to follow these practices as well.

Last, but not least, we encourage area residents to consider volunteering or donating to an organization that preserves and protects Lake Superior.

Whatever you do this Sunday, we hope you take a moment to honor, preserve and protect the big lake that sustains our region.